The Little Black Box by K J Gillenwater

Author:K J Gillenwater [Gillenwater, K J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-08-13T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Larry took a flying leap at the petite researcher and crashed into Candace as she dialed. He sent them both skidding into the rows of metal shelving. Black boxes, wiring, and circuit boards rained down on their tangled bodies.

From out of the heap of plastic and wires, Larry’s booming voice got her moving. “Get that box out of here!”

Paula snatched the black box and bolted out of the lab. The glass door opened with a bang. She slammed into the janitor who mopped the hallway floor.

“Watch where you’re going, lady!”

She stumbled down the hallway and pressed the down button on the elevator. She glanced over her shoulder. Larry and Candace disentangled themselves from the mess on the floor. Candace’s face flamed red in anger.

The elevator doors opened.

Was Candace involved somehow? Or was she just a suspicious rules follower? The shocked look when Larry told her the barcode didn’t match—it was as if she was surprised someone found it out.

***

With one hand on the steering wheel, Paula pressed the speed dial on her cell phone for Will’s number. She checked her rearview mirror to make sure no one followed her.

The phone rang twice before Will picked up.

“Will, listen to me. I think I might be in some kind of trouble.”

“Did you get caught with the box?” His voice was edged with concern. “Where are you?”

“I’m in my car headed home. Listen, the box isn’t what we think it is. Larry couldn’t find it in their records. The black box I have doesn’t exist...at least not according to the AIM project. I don’t know what I have.” She glanced over at the black box sitting on the passenger’s seat.

“You aren’t making any sense. Where would it have come from?”

“I don’t know.” She slowed for a stoplight. “Remember that girl in the lab?”

“Candace?”

“Yeah.” Sitting still at the light shredded Paula’s nerves. She locked her door and waited anxiously for it to turn green. “She saw the box and tried to call someone. I think she knows something. I think she might be in on this.”

“If Candace knows, it won’t be long before Professor Pritchard knows. I’m sure he has your home address somewhere.”

Will was right. She couldn’t run home, lock the door, and hide. The professor would want his box back. “So where should I go?”

“Meet me at my apartment. Do you think Candace suspects we’re working together?”

“Well, she saw us yesterday—” The light changed. Paula pressed on the gas. She felt safer being on the move.

“Okay, let’s do this: You drive over to my place. Wait for me across the street. Then, I’ll make sure the coast is clear before I bring you upstairs.”

“And then what?”

“We’ll think everything through. Put together a plan.”

“I can’t hide forever, Will. By Monday, we have to have something prepared to take to the dean.”

“Do you think he knows what the professor is doing?”

Paula thought for a moment. “I wonder if we can track down that research assistant, the one who left over the summer. What was her name?”

“Kathleen Smith.

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